The 1977 Dallas Cowboys season was their 18th in the National Football League (NFL). The club appeared twice on Monday Night Football. Rookie running back Tony Dorsett rushed for 1,007 yards and became the second member of the Cowboys (first since 1973) to have a 1,000-yard rushing season. Dallas scored 345 points, which ranked first in the NFC, while its defense only gave up 212 points. Dallas finished with a 12–2 record (tied with 1968 for the best record in the Landry era). The Cowboys made it to their fourth Super Bowl and beat the Denver Broncos to capture their second Super Bowl title. They were the first team from the NFC East Division to win two Super Bowls. Their record (including the postseason) remains the highest single-season winning percentage in franchise history. The Cowboys became the 4th team in NFL history to win two Super Bowls, joining the Packers, Dolphins, and Steelers.
As in 1975, the Cowboys did not play this season on Thanksgiving, again replaced by the St. Louis Cardinals. As of 2025, this was the final season that the team did not play on the holiday.
The 1977 Cowboys ranked #17 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.
Offseason To improve their running game, the Cowboys orchestrated a big trade with the Seattle Seahawks, moving up in the NFL draft to acquire running back Tony Dorsett, the Heisman Trophy winner from national champion Pittsburgh.
With the retirement of Lee Roy Jordan, Bob Breunig became the starting middle linebacker, Randy White was moved to defensive tackle, and Thomas Henderson became a starter at strongside linebacker, turning the defense into a dominant unit.
Draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1977 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeThomas BaileyRunning backTulsaArtie BelvinDefensive backUTEPLarry BrinsonRunning backFloridaJeff ButtsTight endOregonBruce HutherLinebackerNew HampshireRichard JacobsonDefensive LineHamlineLucien JohnsonLinebackerUTEPAbel JoeRunning backCheyney StateDave MeteerOffensive lineBYUKeith PonderDefensive backNorthern MichiganFred RayhleTight endChattanooga
Roster Dallas Cowboys 1977 roster Quarterbacks Glenn Carano Roger Staubach
Running backs Larry Brinson Doug Dennison Tony Dorsett Scott Laidlaw Robert Newhouse Preston Pearson
Wide receivers Tony Hill Butch Johnson Drew Pearson Golden Richards
Tight ends Billy Joe DuPree Jay Saldi Offensive linemen Jim Cooper G Pat Donovan T John Fitzgerald C Andy Frederick T Burton Lawless G Ralph Neely T Tom Rafferty G/C Herbert Scott G Rayfield Wright T
Defensive linemen Larry Cole DE/DT Bill Gregory DT Ed Jones DE Harvey Martin DE Jethro Pugh DT Dave Stalls DE Randy White DT Linebackers Bob Breunig MLB Guy Brown OLB Mike Hegman OLB Thomas Henderson OLB Bruce Huther MLB D. D. Lewis OLB
Defensive backs Benny Barnes CB Cliff Harris FS Randy Hughes FS/SS Aaron Kyle CB Mel Renfro CB Mark Washington CB Charlie Waters SS
Special teams Efrén Herrera K Danny White P/QBReserve lists Jim Eidson T (IR) Percy Howard WR (IR) Greg Peters G (IR) Greg Schaum DE (IR) Charley Young RB (IR)
Rookies in italics45 active, 5 inactive
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 San Diego Chargers W 34–14 1–0 Texas Stadium 59,504 Recap 2 at Seattle Seahawks L 17–23 1–1 Kingdome 58,789 Recap 3 Miami Dolphins L 14–20 1–2 Texas Stadium 58,620 Recap 4 Baltimore Colts W 23–21 2–2 Texas Stadium 54,835 Recap 5 at Houston Oilers L 14–23 2–3 Astrodome 49,777 Recap 6 Pittsburgh Steelers W 30–0 3–3 Texas Stadium 49,824 Recap
Regular season December 4, 1977 – Tony Dorsett becomes the first player in franchise history to rush for at least 200 yards in a game. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, Dorsett had 23 rushes for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns including an 84-yard touchdown run which was the longest during the 1977 NFL season.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Game Site Attendance Recap 1 September 18 at Minnesota Vikings W 16–10 1–0 Metropolitan Stadium 47,678 Recap 2 September 25 New York Giants W 41–21 2–0 Texas Stadium 64,215 Recap 3 October 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 23–7 3–0 Texas Stadium 55,316 Recap 4 October 9 at St. Louis Cardinals W 30–24 4–0 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,129 Recap 5 October 16 Washington Redskins W 34–16 5–0 Texas Stadium 62,115 Recap 6 October 23 at Philadelphia Eagles W 16–10 6–0 Veterans Stadium 65,507 Recap 7 October 30 Detroit Lions W 37–0 7–0 Texas Stadium 63,160 Recap 8 November 6 at New York Giants W 24–10 8–0 Giants Stadium 74,532 Recap 9 St. Louis Cardinals L 17–24 8–1 Texas Stadium 64,038 Recap 10 November 20 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–28 8–2 Three Rivers Stadium 49,761 Recap 11 November 27 at Washington Redskins W 14–7 9–2 RFK Stadium 55,031 Recap 12 December 4 Philadelphia Eagles W 24–14 10–2 Texas Stadium 60,289 Recap 13 at San Francisco 49ers W 42–35 11–2 Candlestick Park 55,851 Recap 14 December 18 Denver Broncos W 14–6 12–2 Texas Stadium 63,752 Recap Division opponents are in bold text
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: vs. New York Giants
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 4: at St. Louis Cardinals
Week 5: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 8: at New York Giants
Week 9: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: at Washington Redskins
Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos
Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Game Site Attendance Recap Divisional Chicago Bears (4) W 37–7 Texas Stadium 63,260 Recap NFC Championship January 1, 1978 Minnesota Vikings (3) W 23–6 Texas Stadium 64,293 Recap Super Bowl XII January 15, 1978 vs Denver Broncos (A 1) W 27–10 Louisiana Superdome 75,583 Recap
NFC Divisional Playoff
NFC Championship Game
Super Bowl XII
Season recap With an improved offense and defense, the Cowboys finished with a 12–2 regular season record, breezing through the playoffs by beating the Chicago Bears 37–7 in the divisional round, defeating the Minnesota Vikings 23–6 in the NFC Championship Game and winning Super Bowl XII 27–10 against the Denver Broncos.
Dorsett set a franchise rookie record with 1,007 rushing yards. Defensive end Harvey Martin had one of the greatest seasons ever by an NFL player. In a 14-game season he totaled 85 tackles and an estimated league-leading 23 sacks (more than Michael Strahan's 22.5 record in 16 games), he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, a consensus All-Pro selection, was a key player in the Cowboys winning Super Bowl XII, and a co-MVP of the game with Randy White.
Awards and records Tony Dorsett, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award Tony Dorsett, All-Pro Selection Efrén Herrera, Five Field Goals Attempted in one Super Bowl game, Super Bowl record Harvey Martin, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Harvey Martin, NFL Defensive Player of the Year Harvey Martin, Led NFL, Sacks (23) Drew Pearson, Led NFL Receiving Yards (870) Drew Pearson, All-Pro Selection Drew Pearson, Pro Bowl Selection Roger Staubach, All-Pro Selection Roger Staubach, Pro Bowl Selection Roger Staubach, Led NFC, Touchdown Passes (18) Roger Staubach, NFC Passing Leader Randy White, Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Led NFC, Points Scored (345) Led NFC, Fewest Rushing Yards Allowed (1,651) Led NFL, Fewest Total Yards Allowed (3,213) Led NFL, Total Yards, (4,812)
Publications The Football Encyclopedia Total Football Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes
References
External links 1977 Dallas Cowboys Pro Football Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboys Official Site